Nicholas Ball obit

EastEnders and Hazell actor Nicholas Ball dies aged 78

 He was not on the list.

Actor Nicholas Ball has died aged 78, his agent announced.

The star played gang lord Terry Bates in BBC soap EastEnders, who attacked Peggy Mitchell (Barbara Windsor) while smashing up the Queen Victoria pub, and in the drama Footballers’ Wives took on the role of the chairman of the club and ex-rock star Garry Ryan.

In a statement, Ball’s agent said he “passed away following a short illness” and that his “successful acting career on stage and screen spanned an impressive six decades”.

He was the lead in private detective show Hazell as the main character, James “Jim” Hazell, who is a cockney former policeman originally created by Gordon Williams and footballer Terry Venables, who wrote books under the name PB Yuill.

Ball also appeared in episodes of crime shows Jonathan Creek, Hustle, Heartbeat and Bergerac along with comedies Red Dwarf and The Young Ones and drama The Crezz.

He also had roles in small and big screen films including war drama Overlord, thriller Rogue Male, crime drama The Krays: Dead Man Walking and Jilly Cooper adaptation The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous.

Ball recently filmed the 2024 rural-set drama The Kingdom By The Sea, opposite Coronation Street actress Rula Lenska.

He is survived by his widow Ayda.

Ball was previously married to comedian Sir Billy Connolly’s second wife, the comedy actress turned therapist Pamela Stephenson following them meeting on the set of Not The Nine O’Clock News.

 

Actor

The Kingdom by the Sea

Ray

Completed

2024

 

Trafficking 2

David Willis

Pre-production

 

The Loneliest Cow

Narrator (voice)

Pre-production

 

A New Breed of Criminal (2023)

A New Breed of Criminal

3.5

Charlie Kray

2023

 

Nicholas Ball, Michael McKell, Evie Hughes, and Richard John Taylor in Trafficking (2023)

Trafficking

4.1

David Willis

2023

 

The Haunting of Pendle Hill (2022)

The Haunting of Pendle Hill

2.4

Uncle Alfred

2022

 

Doctors (2000)

Doctors

4.7

TV Series

Harold 'Aitch' Snetterton

2020

1 episode

 

Pentagram (2019)

Pentagram

2.6

Mr. Halsey

2019

 

Whatever Became Of Richard Blaine? (2019)

Whatever Became Of Richard Blaine?

8.2

Short

Richard

2019

 

Muse (2019)

Muse

3.8

Mr. Williams

2019

 

Christopher Ellison in The Krays: Dead Man Walking (2018)

The Krays: Dead Man Walking

3.0

Harry Webster

2018

 

Guy Henry in Holby City (1999)

Holby City

5.8

TV Series

Barry Copeland

2015–2017

2 episodes

 

Surgery (2015)

Surgery

7.3

Short

The Crude Surgeon

2015

 

Doom Room (2013)

Doom Room

3.1

Man

2013

 

Fifteen (2012)

Fifteen

7.4

Mr. Allen

2012

 

The Stranglers - On Stage, on Screen

2012

 

Enchantress (2011)

Enchantress

3.8

Merlin

2011

 

Rosamunde Pilcher (1993)

Rosamunde Pilcher

3.8

TV Series

2011

1 episode

 

Casualty (1986)

Casualty

6.1

TV Series

Frank Fonteyne

Michael Shapiro

2007–2011

2 episodes

 

Peter (2011)

Peter

5.5

Martin Clement

2011

 

Dead Man Running (2009)

Dead Man Running

5.9

Fight Bookie

2009

 

EastEnders (1985)

EastEnders

4.7

TV Series

Terry

2007–2009

15 episodes

 

Robert Vaughn, Robert Glenister, Adrian Lester, Marc Warren, and Jaime Murray in Hustle (2004)

Hustle

8.2

TV Series

Frank Rice

2009

1 episode

 

Sisterhood (2008)

Sisterhood

6.3

Jack

2008

 

Double the Fist (2004)

Double the Fist

7.4

TV Series

Fist Army

2008

1 episode

 

John Malkovich, Ron Perlman, Thomas Jane, and Devon Aoki in Mutant Chronicles (2008)

Mutant Chronicles

5.2

Plutocrat

2008

 

Nick Berry in Heartbeat (1992)

Heartbeat

6.9

TV Series

Gregory Flambard

Charlie Fenton

1997–2007

2 episodes

 

Footballers' Wives (2002)

Footballers' Wives

6.4

TV Series

Garry Ryan

2006

6 episodes

 

Footballers Wive$: Overtime (2005)

Footballers Wive$: Overtime

6.1

TV Series

Garry Ryan

2005–2006

14 episodes

 

Alun Armstrong, James Bolam, Amanda Redman, and Dennis Waterman in New Tricks (2003)

New Tricks

7.9

TV Series

Webb

2005

1 episode

 

The Commander: Blackdog (2005)

The Commander: Blackdog

7.2

TV Movie

John Dawson

2005

 

The Commander: Virus (2005)

The Commander: Virus

6.8

TV Movie

John Dawson

2005

 

Judith Barker, Jacqueline Leonard, and Colin Wells in The Courtroom (2004)

The Courtroom

7.5

TV Series

Philip Catlow

2004

1 episode

 

John Hurt, Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Ladislav Beran, Doug Jones, Karel Roden, Brian Steele, and Rupert Evans in Hellboy (2004)

Hellboy

6.8

Russian General (Director's Cut) (uncredited)

2004

 

Top Dog (2002)

Top Dog

1.9

Short

Ray King

2002

 

Championship

6.1

Short

George

2002

 

The Coral Island (2000)

The Coral Island

8.2

TV Mini Series

Pirate Captain

2000

 

Robert Bathurst, James Nesbitt, Hermione Norris, Fay Ripley, and John Thomson in Cold Feet (1997)

Cold Feet

8.2

TV Series

Felix Bishop

2000

3 episodes

 

Urban Gothic (2000)

Urban Gothic

6.4

TV Series

Mr. Dimes

2000

1 episode

 

Out of Depth (2000)

Out of Depth

5.7

Lenny

2000

 

Alan Davies in Jonathan Creek (1997)

Jonathan Creek

8.1

TV Series

Vincent Rees

1999

1 episode

 

Nick Berry in Harbour Lights (1999)

Harbour Lights

6.4

TV Series

Alan Semple

1999

1 episode

 

Gabrielle Anwar, Peter O'Toole, Greta Scacchi, and Martin Dejdar in The Manor (1999)

The Manor

5.4

Sir Everett Blake

1999

 

Clive Owen in Croupier (1998)

Croupier

7.0

Jack Snr.

1998

 

Thief Takers (1995)

Thief Takers

7.4

TV Series

DCI Nick Hall (1998)

DCI Nick Hall

1997

6 episodes

 

The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous (1997)

The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous

6.9

TV Mini Series

Larry Lockton

1997

3 episodes

 

Insiders

TV Series

Neil Pine

1997

1 episode

 

The Famous Five (1995)

The Famous Five

7.3

TV Series

Tiger Dan

1997

1 episode

 

Respect

TV Movie

Ronnie Ellis

1996

 

Richard Griffiths in Pie in the Sky (1994)

Pie in the Sky

7.7

TV Series

DCI Doggett

1996

1 episode

 

Colin Blumenau, Nula Conwell, Peter Ellis, Trudie Goodwin, Jon Iles, Gary Olsen, Eric Richard, John Salthouse, Tony Scannell, Jeff Stewart, Mark Wingett, and Delia Swan in The Bill (1984)

The Bill

6.7

TV Series

Jim Brodie

1996

1 episode

 

Janet McTeer in The Governor (1995)

The Governor

7.2

TV Series

Edward Maynard

1995

1 episode

 

Tarzán (1991)

Tarzán

5.6

TV Series

Robin Conway

1994

1 episode

 

Perfect Gift (1994)

Perfect Gift

6.4

Sheffield

1994

 

Mitzi Kapture and Rob Estes in Silk Stalkings (1991)

Silk Stalkings

6.5

TV Series

Dustin Rhoades

1994

1 episode

 

Acapulco H.E.A.T. (1993)

Acapulco H.E.A.T.

5.6

TV Series

Derek Perkins

1993

1 episode

 

Maria Pitillo, Glenn Frey, and Aries Spears in South of Sunset (1993)

South of Sunset

7.8

TV Series

Jonas Cooper

1993

1 episode

 

Chris Barrie, Craig Charles, Ray Fearon, Danny John-Jules, Robert Llewellyn, and Norman Lovett in Red Dwarf (1988)

Red Dwarf

8.4

TV Series

Simulant

1991

1 episode

 

El C.I.D. (1990)

El C.I.D.

6.8

TV Series

Brian

1991

1 episode

 

Kate O'Mara, Ian Lavender, Derek Nimmo, David Robb, Joan Sims, and Toyah Willcox in Cluedo (1990)

Cluedo

6.4

TV Series

Mr. Hall

1990

1 episode

 

Colin's Sandwich (1988)

Colin's Sandwich

7.7

TV Series

Alan Hunter

1990

3 episodes

 

Boon (1986)

Boon

6.4

TV Series

Gerry Anscomb

1989

1 episode

 

Casino

Short

Julien

1989

 

Terence Alexander, Sean Arnold, Annette Badland, Deborah Grant, Lindsay Heath, Celia Imrie, David Kershaw, Geoffrey Leesley, Thérèse Liotard, Nancy Mansfield, Tony Melody, John Nettles, Cécile Paoli, John Telfer, and Mela White in Bergerac (1981)

Bergerac

6.8

TV Series

Gravel Beresford

Hardaker

1983–1988

2 episodes

 

Tales of the Unexpected (1979)

Tales of the Unexpected

7.6

TV Series

Ken Johnson

1988

1 episode

 

Jaclyn Smith and Robert Wagner in Windmills of the Gods (1988)

Windmills of the Gods

6.0

TV Mini Series

1988

2 episodes

 

Deborah Raffin in Claudia (1985)

Claudia

6.2

Howard

1985

 

Running Out of Luck (1985)

Running Out of Luck

4.9

1985

 

Lifeforce (1985)

Lifeforce

6.1

Derebridge

1985

 

A.D. (1985)

A.D.

7.2

TV Mini Series

Burrus

Roman Officer

1985

4 episodes

 

Griff Rhys Jones and Mel Smith in Alas Smith & Jones (1984)

Alas Smith & Jones

7.4

TV Series

1984

1 episode

 

Video Stars (1983)

Video Stars

7.8

TV Movie

Bob Surge

1983

 

Nelly's Version (1983)

Nelly's Version

6.8

TV Movie

Insp. Leach

1983

 

Spooky (1983)

Spooky

7.5

TV Series

Danny Roberts

1983

1 episode

 

Adrian Edmondson, Rik Mayall, Nigel Planer, and Christopher Ryan in The Young Ones (1982)

The Young Ones

8.2

TV Series

Dr. Jim Morrison

1982

1 episode

 

Play for Today (1970)

Play for Today

7.8

TV Series

Terry

John Arnott

Police Constable Wilding

1976–1981

3 episodes

 

Nicholas Ball in Life for Christine (1980)

Life for Christine

TV Movie

Colin

1980

 

Hammer House of Horror (1980)

Hammer House of Horror

7.5

TV Series

William

1980

1 episode

 

Nicholas Ball in Hazell (1978)

Hazell

7.3

TV Series

James Hazell

1978–1979

22 episodes

 

Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? (1978)

Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?

6.4

Skeffington

1978

 

Don Henderson, Diane Keen, Peter Sallis, and Don Warrington in Crown Court (1972)

Crown Court

7.3

TV Series

Det. Sgt. Jeffrey Lent

1976

3 episodes

 

The Crezz (1976)

The Crezz

8.4

TV Series

Colin Pitman

1976

5 episodes

 

Rogue Male (1976)

Rogue Male

6.6

TV Movie

2nd Seaman

1976

 

BBC Play of the Month (1965)

BBC Play of the Month

6.9

TV Series

James Vane

1976

1 episode

 

Couples

5.8

TV Series

Mr. Minter

1976

6 episodes

 

Norman Bowler, Stratford Johns, and Frank Windsor in Softly Softly: Task Force (1969)

Softly Softly: Task Force

7.2

TV Series

Andrews

1975

1 episode

 

Overlord (1975)

Overlord

7.1

Arthur

1975

 

Sean Connery, Michael Caine, Paul Scofield, and Anna Calder-Marshall in ITV Saturday Night Theatre (1969)

ITV Saturday Night Theatre

6.3

TV Series

Geoff

1972

1 episode

 

Jamie (1971)

Jamie

7.2

TV Series

Edward Bruce

1971

1 episode

 

From a Bird's Eye View (1970)

From a Bird's Eye View

7.0

TV Series

Jack Desmond

1970

1 episode

 

The Black Tulip (1970)

The Black Tulip

6.9

TV Mini Series

Captain Tilley

1970

3 episodes

 

Lisa Daniely in Confession (1970)

Confession

TV Series

Karl

1970

1 episode

 

Peter Adamson, Jean Alexander, Johnny Briggs, Margot Bryant, and Doris Speed in Coronation Street (1960)

Coronation Street

5.6

TV Series

Spider Smart

1970

1 episode

 

The Gold Robbers (1969)

The Gold Robbers

7.8

TV Mini Series

Terry Cradock

1969

3 episodes

 

Anton Rodgers in The Elusive Pimpernel (1969)

The Elusive Pimpernel

TV Mini Series

Philinte

1969

1 episode

 

ITV Playhouse (1967)

ITV Playhouse

6.9

TV Series

Philip

1969

1 episode

 

Mr. Rose (1967)

Mr. Rose

8.0

TV Series

Francis - Young Guardsman

1968

1 episode

 

The Gunpowder Plot

TV Movie

Sir Everard Digby

1968

 

James Ellis and John Slater in Z Cars (1962)

Z Cars

7.0

TV Series

Despatch Rider

1968

1 episode

 

Noele Gordon in Crossroads (1964)

Crossroads

4.4

TV Series

Ray Coppins

1964–1988

 

Producer

Fifteen (2012)

Fifteen

7.4

associate producer

2012